Michael Huckabee, Ph.D., has been named the new director of the physician assistant program in the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Allied Health Professions.
Dr. Huckabee will start his new role May 1, following the April 30 retirement of the current director, Jim Somers, Ph.D. Dr. Somers has served as physician assistant director since 1991.
For the past 15 years, Dr. Huckabee has served as a professor and director of the Union College Physician Assistant Program in Lincoln, Neb.
"We're delighted to have Dr. Huckabee join our faculty," said Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., senior associate dean for the School of Allied Health Professions. "He brings an exceptional record as an educator and researcher. He has an outstanding vision for the future of our physician assistant program, one that will continue to advance the great progress the physician assistant program enjoyed under Dr. Somers."
Under Dr. Huckabee's leadership, Union College received federal support of almost $2.5 million for training grants to support projects that provide health care for underserved populations.
Also under his guidance, Union College physician assistant graduates posted 100 percent first-time pass rates on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination four of the past six years. Nearly half of those graduates serve in Nebraska communities.
Dr. Huckabee has 29 years of clinical practice, primarily in rural family practice and emergency medicine, and more recently in pediatrics.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.